The community-engaged approach aims to prevent cardiovascular disease and its effects among residents of medically underserved communities in Indianapolis.
In the United States, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death. Indiana ranks 35th among the nation's least-healthy states, owing largely to CVD. The state ranks:
The iHEART initiative is being carried out by several community organizations in collaboration with community residents. The IU Fairbanks School of Public Health at IU Indianapolis, Clinical and Translational Science Institutes, Diabetes Impact Project Indianapolis Neighborhood, and IU Indianapolis Polis Center are among the major organizational partners.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation is funding this initiative as part of a three-year commitment to reduce health disparities that contribute to overall heart disease and cardiovascular health.
The Collaborative's novel strategy combines medical, research, and community engagement resources to screen, refer, and treat people in three medically underserved Indianapolis neighborhoods: Meadows/Martindale-Brightwood, the United Northwest Area/Riverside, and the Near Southeast Side.
Goal 1: To screen 10% of or 1,400 adults in the iHEART anchor communities for CVD risks including:
Goal 2: 20% reduction in emergency department visits and 30% reduction in rehospitalization rates annually for iHEART anchor community residents identified at high risk for CVD.
Initiatives:
Blood pressure screenings, and point-of-care testing (glucose, lipids, diabetes screening), will be available in a variety of community settings, including barbershops/salons and local places of worship. Residents will have access to follow-up information and tools to help them connect with clinical treatment and social services close to home.